Superman, The Wolverine, Priest: Mar 18th Comic Reel

According to Heat Vision, Kevin Coster has signed a deal to play Jonathan Kent in the new "Superman" reboot that will most likely be called "The Man of Steel." Costner joins a small fraternity of actors that includes film and television talent like Glen Ford ("Superman"), John Schneider ("Smallville"), and Mike Farrell ("Superman: The Animated Series"). In statement, director Zack Snyder said, "Kevin will be able to communicate the quiet strength of this rural American man who raised the greatest superhero of all time." It is currently unknown if this version of Pa Kent will pass away or live to see his adoptive son become The Man of Tomorrow.

Release date: 2012

THE WOLVERINE

As we reported here at CBR yesterday, Darren Aronofsky has walked away from the project. "As I talked more about the film with my collaborators at Fox, it became clear that the production of 'The Wolverine' would keep me out of the country for almost a year," he said in a joint statement with 20th Century Fox. Who knew Aronofsky was such a home-body? A source offers Cinema Blend another reason the led to Aronofsky walking away. "We're told that after his last movie earned a Best Picture nomination and won Natalie Portman an Oscar, he made his demand for the total control over the film that he'd wanted all along, the kind of control Christopher Nolan now has over the Batman franchise at Warner Bros," they write. "They tried to give him more money but that wasn't what Aronofsky wanted. In response to his demand for total control, our source says, 'the producers pretty much told him to walk.' So this morning, he did." Now that's an explanation. The studio has a long history of getting overtly involved in its tentpole releases and Aronofsky is used to a great deal of freedom and control. Interesting that they didn't chose the old "creative differences" line.

Director D.J. Caruso offers CloneWeb (via Spinoff Online) some casting ideas for the film: Chris Pine for Jesse, Alex Pettyfer for The Saint of Killers, and Shia LeBeouf for Arseface. While that last one has a certain perverse curiosity to it, I'm not sure the other actors fit the established characters. Luckily, CloneWeb has video of the interview where Caruso explains his vision for the film and mentions that he has not spoken to any of these actors other than joshing Pettyfer in the video about reading the comic.

According to Heat Vision, the Disney Channel picked up the rights to "Ditz," an unpublished Neal Adams comic book. "The concept centers on a teenager with a rookie mystical guardian who enables the girl to enter other people's bodies and control them, helping the possessed with their problems," they write. "Doing so, however, leaves her body scatterbrained and functioning on its own, causing a host of side problems for when her spirit returns." That sounds like a good fit for the Disney Channel.

Airdate: TBA

SMALLVILLE

Kryptonsite reveals a few more confirmed actors returning for the series finale. I'm leaving them behind the link in case you don't want to be spoiled.

Airs: Fridays

WEEKEND WARRIORS

Get me a white russian and cue up a Lucky Soul track, it's the weekend! There's also a UFC fight, so there will be much screaming and excitement at my friend's apartment tomorrow night. Meanwhile, if any of you in the great, wide Internet discover something awesome, disheartening, or just plain weird, let us know! Take credit, come up with a clever nickname, or go anonymous. The choice is yours. Fresh rumors and movie news every weekday morning. I am Erik Amaya, bracing for the future threat of the week ahead.